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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is RHAPAW?

2. Whose niece is mentioned in a note Q finds in Margo's room?

3. Whose house do Q and Margo break into?

4. What does Margo say is extremely small?

5. What were Q's parents' occupations?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do Q and Ben take off the hinges of Margo's door and what do they find?

2. Describe Ben Starlling and his relationship to Q.

3. Who questions Q about Margo's disappearance?

4. Describe Radar and his relationship to Q.

5. Describe Q's conversation with Otis Warren.

6. What do Margo and Q do at the SunTrust Building?

7. What does Lacey want when she approaches Q at school?

8. How does Q feel the next morning and who does he tell about his escapades with Margo at Chuck's house?

9. Who is Robert Joyner and what do Margo and Q have to do with the man?

10. Who goes to see Ruthie and what does she let them do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Paper Towns. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Green chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Green chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Green's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Green use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of John Green.

2. What in Green's background may have helped him in writing Paper Towns? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Paper Towns belongs to the young adult mystery genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult mystery genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young adult mystery and a historical novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,173 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample